Anti-racists tried to defend the hotel against fascists but were forced to retreat
Anyone underplaying the threat from the violence of the fascists should have been in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, on Sunday as a far right mob tried to murder asylum seekers.
Fascists smashed their way into a hotel used to house refugees and set it on fire. They chanted Tommy Robinson’s name, “burn it” and “set it alight.”
It could have led to mass killings. The fascists would have cheered had that happened.
A demo of up to 1,000 of the far right broke windows before crashing through the hotel entrance.
Around 200 anti-fascists from Stand Up To Racism (SUTR) staged a counter-demo but were forced to make an orderly retreat as fascists looked set to attack.
“We held the line but were outnumbered—we have to build SUTR everywhere, ” said Phil Turner from Rotherham TUC and SUTR.
“It must be terrifying for refugees housed at the hotel.”
Ebru, one of the people on the SUTR counter-protest later told a rally in Sheffield the fascists “kept coming. They are so confident and out for blood. They are running rampage. Shame on all those who allowed it to get to this point.”
Speaking at the same rally, Belle said she had “seen fascism in the face. The fascists wanted to kill people in a barbaric way. The police decided to kettle us, but didn’t apply that to the fascists.”
Watch anti-racists report back from the Rotherham attack here
And it wasn’t just Rotherham where this happened. Chris reports from Staffordshire, “Completely outnumbered at Tamworth Holiday Inn. About 25 of us against 300 fascists. Fireworks, rocks, windows smashed. We were forced to retreat. Reports now that fires set outside of the building and the entrance breached. We put up a stand for about an hour but couldn’t continue.”
Honour to all those who have opposed the fascists and racists. But what will it take to make the trade union leaders move? The fascists nearly incinerated children on Sunday.
Shouldn’t there be a call for work stoppages, even for half an hour, to ram home the danger and organise resistance?
There must at least be a clear demand for total support and mobilisation for every counter-protest against the far right now.
Backing the cops, the courts and the state to stop the fascists is useless—in fact it leads away from the action we need because it demobilises campaigners.
It’s time for two key drives. One, and the most urgent, is a much bigger and more active movement against Islamophobia and racism. It has to say refugees welcome and stand with Muslims and against the fascists in all their forms.
There has to be much more support for Stand Up To Racism and the rebuilding of local groups with roots.
We need this campaign in every locality and workplace with hundreds of thousands involved through mass propaganda, badges, posters, meetings, stalls, music and cultural events and more.
It has to link up all those horrified and angered by the far right on the streets.
There must be tens of thousands on our side the next time Tommy Robinson holds a national march. That requires the trade union leaders, the independent MPs, all the anti-racist campaigns, and the Labour left to throw themselves into building the movement.
Within that movement, socialists have to argue for politics and action that target our real enemies—the bosses, the rich and the politicians who support them. As the government attacks pensioners and embraces austerity, the anger has to be drawn leftwards, not seized on by the far right.
We also need to stay on the streets for Palestine—resolute in the struggle against genocide and refusing to be intimidated from marching.
The millions who have marched against Israel’s crimes are a key component of the movement that can smash Robinson and Reform UK.
We have done it repeatedly before—we need to do it again.
The far right looks strong because it is not challenged extensively enough on the streets. But anti-racists are a much larger force if they can be mobilised. We can win.
In other areas anti-fascists were in the majority on Sunday, emphasising how to win.
Candy reports, “200 Dorset anti-racists spent hours successfully standing our ground against the far right on Weymouth beach.
“The local racist organisers were left behind when the 150 of the visiting far-right went off to fight the police and tried unsuccessfully to reach the anti-racists.
“Our side was addressed by the Weymouth mayor, Green councillor, Labour Party and trade union members and local activists from Portland.
“A Dorset Stand Up To Racism meeting on Tuesday will discuss plans for an anti-racist summit in Dorset in September.”
Anti-fascists overwhelmed the far right in Lancaster.
Eugene reports, “At 4.30pm we left the town hall steps in an orderly fashion after over seven hours. They had only ten left. We left with 150 we had 500 at the high point
“We chanted “Lancaster is anti-fascist!” and sang, “There are many many more of us than you!”
Sue says, “Very good mobilisation in Derby today. Fascists said they would rally at Derby Ram at 2pm. Over 70 Derby anti-racists were there at 1pm. A few little groups of fascists were lurking around but the streets were ours.”
From Cardiff, Martin reports, “Once again a magnificent show of anti-racism following Tommy Robinson sharing details of a far right protest.
“Up to 450 anti-racists assembled by Cardiff library. At one point seven far right protesters tried to get close and were sent rapidly away. Rumours are circulating that there are more of them hiding in the pubs.
“There have been great speeches from across the movement and a great response to calls to intensify the anti-racism movement.”
In Sheffield, reports Tom, ” We had over 500 take part in our anti-racist demonstration. We had socialists, trade unionists, young people, older people, gay, straight, black, white, trans, Jewish. I have to say a special mention to our Muslim comrades who came out today with incredible bravery including a fantastic mobilisation of 1-200 young Muslims who made a big difference.”
Brian from Birmingham says, “Up to 200 attended an emergency unity demo. Speakers repeatedly stressed the need to build a stronger anti racism movement to stand up and mobilise against fascism and racism.
“Tracy a local trade unionist said, ‘We have to have a huge turnout when Tommy Robinson and his supporters come to Birmingham on the 17 August’.”
Simon from Hastings reports, “At 2pm today the Hastings mosque received a threat of an attack by email.
“They contacted SUTR and we put a call out for 4pm. At 4pm 50 people showed up at the mosque.
“We are now having a meeting inside the mosque—discussing the fascist threat and the need to build a mass anti-racist movement.
“We do not expect an attack. But the turnout was very heartening. We are ready, just in case.”
Join the demonstrations this week against the far right and Islamophobia
Monday 5 August
Plymouth: 6pm, Guildhall PL1 2BJ
Oxford: 5:30pm,, Carfax Towe
Wednesday 7 August
Lewisham: 7pm Clock Tower
Thursday 8 August
Brighton: 5.30pm, Clock Tower, North Street
Friday 9 August
Crawley: 5pm, Holiday Inn, Haslett Avenue East, Three Bridges, RH10 1UA
Saturday 10 August
Newcastle: 9.30am, Grey’s Monument
Shrewsbury: 12.30pm, The Square
Wakefield: 12.30pm, Cedar Court Hotel, Denby Dale Rd, Calder Grove, WF4 3QZ
The new developments and continuations in the far right
Plus: far right outnumbered in Glasgow
Farage under pressure from Restore Britain
